READING 5 - ORTHODOX READINGS - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
It should be noted that very pious faithful do contact soothsayers and cursers in order to put a ban on a so-called enemy and that, very often they would even contact a priest asking him to remove a "shed" [demon] from a neighbour rather than trying to understand that he might be cursed of self-hatred and discomfort. Superstition is deeply enrooted in Christianity or secularized parts of the society.
The parable is thus very significant. A certain man journeyed and was stripped, wounded and left half dead by some thieves on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho. A Priest and a Levite passed but did not stop, although it should be mentioned that priests are duly supposed to assist the dead and to bury them as shown in the Book of Tobias. Anyway, a certain Samaritan, i.e. an enemy, a foreigner, a heretic to the Jewish accepted faith, came and healed him with oil and wine [produces still in use for the sacrament of the Oil, Healing of the Sick], took him to an inn [empty but still seen in the desert] and paid for his lodging and food and even told the host that he would come and pay all extra expenses, if any. And Jesus asks the scribe, who was neighbour unto this man? The answer is remarkable: the scribe avoids any judgement. His answer, directed to God: "He that showed mercy on him", and Jesus says: "Go and do likewise" [Luke 11:37].
JEWISH READINGS
Jacob, on his way to Canaan, meets his brother Esau. Esau intends to kill his brother and it is written in the Torah that Jacob said to God: "Save me from the hand of Esau" [Genesis 32:12]. And even more: "From the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau."
You might have experienced the same situation in your own family or with friends or acquaintences. A one-time friend or supposed friend turned aside and left you. Moreover and even worse, he or she became a real enemy. In this particular case, the same question arises as in the weekly Gospel: who is my neighbour? a friend, a dear and beloved person or potentially an enemy? Can I have enough confidence in myself and first of all in God to trust that we might not fight or quarrel or separate but that such incidents show something of our mutual misunderstanding. And maybe you might not find any she-ass on your way to give to both a nice correction!
But the Jewish tradition goes a little further: we should be patient [savlanut, patience], the keyword in the area of the Syro-Phoenician Rift, i.e. the Holy Land. God always wants to unify and to unite. This is shown in all our prayers and supplications. But we need sometimes life-long patience and to reach inner wisdom to make peace. It is even interesting - showing how little respect we pay to life - that people might reconcile when a person is dying. Pride overcomes us and wonderful believers behave like that without showing mercy.
On the other hand, when two enemies do agree to become friends they reach the strongest of friendship, which is undestroyable.
Enmity may then turn to friendship and hatred to love.
In this Torah portion of the week, many things happen to Jacob: He fights during the night with the angel, althoug there is no evidence that he fought with God Himself, but the meaning is quite the same. He resisted, could not overcome and was touched at the hollow of his thigh, which was out of joint as he had wrestled. Then he is given a new name "Israel" [Numbers 32:28] "For as a prince have you power and with men and have prevailed". He is hurt but has a burning will to live. This could be compared with the Lord's words to saint Paul: "My grace is sufficient with you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" [2 Corinthians 12:9].
We are often proud or shy and dare not do things that could heal us.
As it is said in the Sayings of the Fathers of this week [Pirkey Avot 2:12]: "Let the property of your fellow man be as precious to you as your own".
Ananias was reluctant to baptize Saint Paul. But Jesus answered to him: "Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel. For I shall show him how great things he must suffer [Hebrew: lisbol = suffer and be patient] for My Name's sake" [Acts of the Apostles 9:15-16].
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